Roller-compress.



s. J. WEBB.

ROLLER COMPRBSS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 1s, 1900.

lPA'IEIITED JAN. 9, 1906.

mi n 'n u n u wn 190.909,415. I PATENTED JAN. 9, 1900.' s. J. WEBB.

ROLLER COMPRBSS. APPLIoATIoN FILED 0911.10, 1900. l

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mill

110.809,415. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. s. J. WEBB.

` ROLLER GOMPRESS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1900.

a sHEnTss'HEnT s.

larly set forth.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

SAMUEL J. IVEBBfOF MINDFN, LOUISIANA.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

ROLLER-COMPRESS- Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

iptiaaaon ned January 16, 1900. seria No. 1,629.

' the bale attained than heretofore and this object is accomplished by what may be termed generically a roller-compress inv contradistinction to the usual reciprocating presses; and myinvention cons:` sts in arollercompress for the purpose intended and in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts having the mode of operation substantially asv hereinafter more particu- In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention 'suiiicient to show the general principles thereof.

and to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. Y

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a compress, some parts beingshown in section. table being removed for clearness. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one means of adjusting the relations of the compress-rollers. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modification. Fig. 6 is a front end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side view, Fig. 8 a front view, and Fig. 9 a plan view, of another embodiment of the same general features, showing different means for operating the parts.

While my invention is intended more particularly for compressing cotton, andI shall describe and illustrate the principles of the invention lin connection with a cotton-compress, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but that it may be used for other purposes, and the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be modiiied by those skilled in the art to adapt it for the particular purpose intended.

In the ordinary handling of cotton, as is well known, it is common to form or arrange the cotton in bales in the field or on the plantation, and the cotton in the form of bales is usually subjected to more or less pressure, and it is often pressed so that the density of l inches in thickness by sixty inches long.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view, the delivery? greater pressure in a hydraulic, steam, or similar compress, which greatly increases the density of the bale and produces what is known as a compressed bale`ready for shipment. To illustrate in a-general way, in ordinary practice it is usual for the bales to contain about five hundred pounds of cotton, and as it is pressed on the plantation the general dimensions may be given as thirty by forty by sixty inches. Of course it is understood that these dimensions vary to a greater or less eX- tent, depending on many circumstances, and of course the density of these bales also varies, depending upon the character of the plantation-press. These bales are then subj ected to the compress and pressed in one direction only, and the resulting bale will have the dimensions of thirty by fifteen to twenty In other words, the length and width of the compressed bale remain the same; but the thickness is largely reduced and the density of the mass may vary from twenty-eight to thirty pounds vper cubic foot. In order to accomplish this reduction in thickness and increased density, it is necessary to subject the bale to enormous pressure, often amounting to two thousand tons, more or less, and this requires necessarily a powerful and solidly-constructed apparatus.

The advantages of compressing bales to the smallest dimensions and to uniform shapes or sizes have long been recognized, and many attempts have been made to accomplish these results in a'satisfactory manner; and it is one of the main objects of my present invention to provide means for accomplishing this so that the result of the operations of my apparatus shall be bales having practically uniform dimensions and the highest attainable density, as well as to accomplish this result in a cheap, effective, and practical way. It is also well recognized that if the dimensions of the bale vary at all this variation should be in the direction of length and that the width and thickness of the bales should be uniform, so that they can be readily packed with the least waste space.

In the compresses ordinarily used, as above intimated, the bales have been com- -pressed only in one direction, and there `are It is common also to take .these pressed bales and subject them to IIO tempts have been made to compress the bale in the direction of its width as well as its thickness; and another object of my present invention is to furnish an apparatus which shall compress the bale in the direction of its width as well as its thickness and at the same time produce bales having substantially the same uniform dimensions of width and thickness and varying, if at all, in their respective lengths. Not only am I able to accomplish these results, but the resulting bales have a much greater density than those compressed in any other way, this density being increased from thirty to fty per cent. over the best attainable results with the ordinary reciprocating compress.

My apparatus may be used in connection with the compressed bale above referred to or even with the plantation-bale.

One of the distinguishing features of my invention consists in subjecting the bale to the action of a roller-compress, or, in other words, a -press in which the bearing-surfaces corresponding to the ordinary bed and platen of a reciprocating press rotate and progressively subject the diHerent portions of the bale to the great pressure necessary to produce the desired density. It is unnecessary to point out the advantages of this construction, it being sufficient to say that the bale being progressively compressed or compressed in increments it is unnecessary to to have as great a power or as heavy a construction of apparatus as would be required if all portions or increments of the bale were subjected to the same degree of pressure at Moreover, by subjecting the bale not only to vertical but to lateral pressure-that is, by reducing its thickness and its width as well-,a greater density can be attained with the same amount of energy than if the pressure were exerted in one direction only, and not only is this greater density better attained, but, as above intimated, uniformity of width and thickness of the bale is attained.

From the above general statements the purposes and objects of my invention will be understood by those skilled in the art, and l will now proceed to describe the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings.

Referring to the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, A represents the frame of the machine, which is shown as consistinv:r practically of two complementary parts having flanges or projections A A', which may be supported upon suitable foundations A2, the flanges preferablybeing about on the level of the floor. These complementary parts A may be united and held in proper relations by any suitable bolts-as, for instance, the bolts a-there being more or less of these, according to requirements. Mounted in this frame are the main compress-rollers B B and these ro lers are of a thickness corresponding to the width of the bale. lt is desirable that these rollers be adjustable with relation to each other in the frame, and l have shown one of the rollers, as B, mounted in eccentric-bearings B2 in the frame, these bearings being capable of adjustment, so as to vary the space between the adjacent peripheries of the compress-rollers. Any suitable adjustment may be used but in Fig. 3 l have indicated one convenient means, in which the eccentric B2 is provided with a worin-wheel B3, and a suitable wormv B4, mounted on the frame, engages therewith, so that the eccentric can be adjusted in the bearing to move the aXle or shaft ofl the roller B vertically to and from the (in this instance) fixed bearing of the roller B. ln this particular construction a similar eccentric,"keyed on the shaft, should be at the other side of the machine, and it is not deemed necessary to show these; but it is evident that the eccentric-bearing may be in the roller instead of in the frame, or any other suitable construction may be used adapted to accomplish the desired result.

It is well known that when a bale of cotton is subjected to the enormous pressure intended as soon as the pressure is released therefrom the 'bale will expand unless confined by substantial meeans, and l provide for progressively tying the bale at about the time it is subjected to the greatest pressure. To accomplish this, the compress-rollers B B are provided with slots or notches bin their peripheries, through which the bale-ties may be passed and secured while the bale is passing between the rollers and subjected to the greatest pressure. ln the present instance l have indicated these slots or notches b as .being quite close together, so that ordinarily a bale-tie would be passed through only every other one, although, of course, the ties may be as numerous as desired.

As a detail of construction the peripheries of the compress-rollers B B may be made up of longitudinal sections b the dovetailed or otherwise united to the body of rollers, and this conduces to facility of repair. As a IOO means of rotating the compress-rollers l in the present instance utilize the slots or notches b and the intervening sections b to constitute the driving-teeth of the rollers, and it is preferable that both of the rollers should be positively driven and at a uniform speed, although in some instances the bale may be forced between the rollers, and no positive means of driving them is then necessary.

In the construction shown the inner sides of the main frame are adjacent to the outer sides of the rollers B B and prevent any lateral expansion of the bale while being subjected to the progressive pressing operation; but as a refinement I preferably provide the frame with removable plates A2, arranged adjacent the opening between the rollers, so that in case of wear these plates may be re- IIS These in the present instance are not shown I as having adjustable bearings, as ordinarily such bearings are unnecessary; but of course they may be supplied with bearings similar to the bearings of the rollers B B. Further, these preliminary compress-rollers are shown as of a smaller diameter than the main compress-rollers; but the relative dimensions are not matters of limitation of the j invention. It is preferable that these preliminary compress-rollers should have the same surface speed as the main compressrollers, and while various mechanisms may be utilized for driving the rollers I have shown a simple and effective means, which also insures their rotating at the same surface speed. rIhe peripheries of the rollers C C are provided with slots or notches c, similar to those in the main compress-rollers, and I provide connecting-pinions D D, having 'teeth d adapted to engage the slots in the compress-rollers in the manner indicated. In connection With the adjustable roller B the connecting-pinion D is mounted in links D2 D3, connected, respectively, to the axes of the rollers B and C, so that whatever may be the adjustment of the roller B the connecting-pinion D will maintain proper operative relation therewith. In order that the preliminary compress-rollers and the main compress-rollers maybe driven at uniform speeds, some means of connecting them must be provided, and in the present instance I mount on the shaft of the roller C a gearwheel E and on the shaft of the roller C a similar gear-wheel E, which intermesh, and one of these may be connected with the source of power, which may be applied to the pulley E3 on the shaft E4, which shaft carries a pinion E5, meshing with the gear-Wheel E. Interposed between the main and preliminary compress-rollers may be arranged suitable guide-rollers F F, and the bolts a adjacent thereto are preferably provided with sleeves a', which also act as guide-rollers.

`With the arrangement so far described the bale is first subjected to a vertical compression between the preliminary compressrollers C and C and then is subjected to the final pressure between the main compressrollers B B, and the bale is secured by suitable ties or otherwise while receiving its final pressure.

As above indicated, it is desirable to subject the bales to a lateral as well as a vertical pressure in order to obtain the greatest density, and for accomplishing this I have shown mounted in the frame A the lateral compressrollers G G. While in some instances it may be desirable to mount one or both of these rollers in adjustable bearings, in the present instance I have shown them mounted in fixed bearings, and I have also shown means for rotating these rollers preferably' at the same surface speed as the preliminary compress-rollers, although the relative speeds may vary, as above indicated. In the present instance the shafts G2 of the rollers G G are extended upward and provided with spur-wheels G3, meshing with a similar spurwheel G4 on a stud or shaft G, fixed to the frame and on which stud lis a bevel gearwheel G, engagingv a crown bevel-gear G7 on the end of the preliminary compress-roller C.

In orderto deliver the bales tothe compress, it is desirable to provide a platform H, preferably having rollers 7i, and at the rear of the main compress-rollers there is a platform H to receive the bale, which may be inclined at its end, as at H2, so that the bale will naturally fall in the position indicated and be headed ready for removal, and thereby avoid the use of an independent heading-machine.

While ordinarily the bales to be compressed will be fed to the compress-rollers by hand from the platform H, it is sometimes an advantage to have a mechanical feeding device, and I have indicated a plunger or follower I, having a shaft I, operated by steam or hydraulic power or otherwise, and when this is used it may also be utilized for maintaining a pressure on the rear end of the bale while being subjected to the action of the compress-rollers, and in this way the undue longitudinal extension of the bale is prevented, which extension the enormous pressure on the opposite sides of the bale tends to produce.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 5,`many of the parts are substantially the equivalents of those already described and are similarly lettered. In this construction the main compress-roller B is shown adjustable in the frame A, there being a boX B5, with wedges or similar devices BG, by means of which the shaft of the roller can be adjusted on an arc the center of which corresponds with the center of the shaft J. Mounted on this shaft J is a gear-wheel J, meshing with a gear-wheel B7 and also meshing with another gear-wheel J 2, which meshes with a similar gear-wheel B8 on the roller B so that the rollers B and B Aare uniformly driven. In this construction the preliminary compress-rollers C and C are mounted in the frame, and on their shafts are placed gears C3 and C4, respectively, engaging the gears J and J2, so that these rollers are given practically the same surface speeds as the main compress-rollers. In this construction the lateral compress-rollers G G are shown as driven by ITO IIS

a different train of gears from that shown in connection with Fig. 1. In this instance the shaft of the roller C carries a bevel gearwheel G', and mounted on the frame of the machine is a short shaft K, having a bevelpinion K engaging the bevel gear-wheel C and also having a bevel-pinion K2 engaging a bevel gear-wheel G"3 on the shaft of the roller G. A similar arrangement is shown for driving the roller G It will be observed that the distinctive diHerence between this train of gearing and that shown in Fig. 1 is that instead of utilizing the peripheri es of the compress rollers as gearwheels separate gear-wheels are provided, and while this complicates the construction somewhat it has other advantages which need not be recited and, further, goes to show that the intermediate connecting mechanism for operating the compress-rollers may be varied. Further, in this construction the lateral compressrollers G G are shown as having corrugated surfaces, which aid in preventing the rearward or longitudinal extension of the bale, and the preliminary compress-rollers C C may also have corrugated or similarly-constructed surfaces. While various connections may be used to drive the compressrollers, in this instance I have shown the shaft J as being provided with a gear-wheel L, meshing with a pinion L on the shaft of a gear L2, which meshes with a pinion L3 on the shaft L4, carrying the driving-pulley E, and it will be observed that with this arrangement the power applied to the driving-pulley is multipLed, so that the pulley rotates relatively faster than in the arrangement shown in Fig. l, although, of course, a similar train of gears may be used in connection with the devices shown in the latter figure.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the main features of the construction are substantially like those first described and are correspondingly lettered. In this arrangement the preliminary compress-rollers are omitted, while the lateral compress-rollers G G are arranged in somewhat closer relation with the main compressrollers B B and the connections for driving the same are varied. In this construction the shaft G2 of the lateral compress-rollers is extended above and below the rollers, and at its upper extension it carries a worm-wheel G, with which engages a worm G1", driven by the pulley E3. The main compressrollers in this construction are provided on their sides with a crown bevel-gear B", and engaging said gears are-the bevel-wheels G11 on shafts G12, which shafts also carry spurgears G13, meshing with spur-gears G1'1 on the shaft G2 of the lateral compress-rollers. This will be seen to be a very simple and direct form of gearing and one which may be duplicated on either side of the apparatus,

thereby insuring uniform and positive action of the parts.

It will be understood that in using my roller-compress the bales may be delivered thereto in different ways and the same or substantially the same results obtained.

As above intimated, the roller-compress can be used in connection with plantationbales or compressed bales, and either of these bales can be delivered to the compress so that the initial pressure will be in the same line as the original pressure or at right angles thereto. For instance, the plantation-bale can be delivered on what may be termed its "side-that is, so that the initial pressure shall be in the direction of what we have called its width or at right angles to the pressure of the plantation-press-and the main compress-rollers will exert a pressure in the same direction as the original pressurethat is, in the direction of the thickness of the bale-or the bale may be delivered to the roller-compress so that the lateral compressrollers G G shall, in fact, compress the bale in the direction of the first pressure-that is, so as to reduce its thickness-and the main compress-rollers shall exert their pressure at right angles thereto in a direction such as to reduce the width of the bale. The same is true of a previously-compressed bale-that is, the initial pressure of the roller-compress may be exerted either to supplement the pressure previously produced on the bale or may be at right angles thereto, and the main compress-rollers will exert their pressure at right angles to the preliminary compressro 1ers-and the result will be that the finished bale will have practically uniform dimensions as to thickness and breadth.

From the above description the operation of the apparatus will be largely understood and need not be set forth in detail, and it will be observed that not only is it practicable to obtain a high degree of density throughout the mass of the compressed or recompressed bale, but that the width and thickness of the successive bales are practically maintained uniform and any enlargement of the compressed bale beyond the normal is in the direction of its length. Furthermore, as already stated, it will be observed that the bale being compressed progressively or in increments it is possible to get a greater amount of compression and resulting density with a minimum power and weight and strength of material in the apparatus.

W'ithout limiting myself to the details of construction set forth, what I claim isl. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination of grooved rollers between which the bale is compressed, and means for forcing the bale between the rollers, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for compressing bales lOO ITO

.ing constructed and arranged to permit the tying of the bale whileunder pressure, substantially as described.

1. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination of rollers between which the bale is compressed, the rollers being provided with slots in their peripheries through which the bale-ties may be passed, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination of rollers between which the bale is compressed, the rollers being provided with longitudinally-removable peripheral sections leaving slots between them for the reception oi the bale-ties, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with rollers between which the bale is compressed with respect to thickness, of rollers between which the bale is compressed laterally with respect to breadth, and means for preventing the lateral extension of the bale while being compressed with respect to thickness, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with rollers between which the baleis compressed with respect to thickness, of means for positively operating the rollers and means for limiting the longitudinal extension of the bale while being compressed, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with rollers be-V tween which the bale is compressed with respect to thickness, of rollers for compressing the bale with respect to breadth, means for positively operating both sets of said rollers and means for limiting the longitudinal extension of the bale while being compressed, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with rollers between which thebale is compressed with respect to thickness, of rollers for compressing the bale with respect to width, means for positively operating bothsets of said rollers and means for forcing the bale between the rollers and limiting the longitudinal eXtension of the bale, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed with respect to thickness, of preliminary compress-rollers, and rollers between which the bale is compressed with respect to width, and ,means for positively operating all of said rollers, substantially as described.

. 11. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed with respect to thickness, of preliminary compress-rollers, rollers between which the bale is compressed with respect to breadth, means for positively operating all of said rollers and means for forcing the bale between the rollers, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed, of preliminary compress rollers, means for positively operating all of said rollers and guides arranged between the two sets of rollers, substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed, of preliminary compress rollers, means for positively operating all of said rollers and connections between the two sets of rollers whereby they areV driven at proper speeds with relation to each other, substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with preliminary compress-rollers, of main compress-rollers, the latter being provided with grooves transverse to the peripheries of the rollers whereby the bale can be tied while the bale is un der full compression between the rollers, substantially as described.

15. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed, of preliminary compress -rollers operating at right angles to the main compressrollers, means for positively operating all of said rollers and a feeding-platform provided with rollers arranged to deliver the bale to the preliminary compress -rollers, substantially as described.

16. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed, means for positively operating said rollers, means Jfor preventing the lateral eX- tension of the bale while being pressed, and means whereby the ties may be applied for securing the bale in its compressed form, substantially as described.

. 17. In an apparatus Jfor compressing bales of cotton, the combination with main compress-rollers between which the bale is compressed, means ior positively driving said rollers, said rollers being provided with grooves transverse to their periphery, and a frame supporting said compress-rollers, the frame being shaped to permit access to the bale while being compressed, substantially as described.

18. In an apparatus for compressing bales of cotton, the combination with rollers be- IOO IIO

tween which the bale is compressed with rewhile under final compression, substantially 1o spect to thickness, of rollers between which as described. the bale is compressed laterally with respect In testimony whereof I have signed my to breadth, means for preventing the lateral name to this speciiication in the presence of 5 extension of the bale while being compressed two subscribing witnesses.

with respect to thickness, means for limiting SAMUEL J. WEBB. the longitudinal extension of the bale while Witnesses: being compressed, and means whereby the F. L. FREEMAN,

ties may be applied for securing the bale W. C. DUVALL. 

